Authorities: 9 killed, 3 injured in South Dakota plane crash

Authorities say nine people have been killed after a plane crashed in South Dakota.

Peter Knudson with the National Transportation Safety Board told The Associated Press 12 people were aboard the Pilatus PC-12 when it crashed about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, shortly after taking off from Chamberlain, about 140 miles (225.3 kilometers) west of Sioux Falls.

Knudson says nine people were killed and three were injured. The single-engine plane was bound for Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Chamberlain and central south-central South Dakota were under a winter storm warning at the time of the crash. Brule County emergency manager Katheryn Benton told the Sioux Falls Argus Leader that planes were unable to land at Chamberlain at the time of the crash.

Knudson says weather will be among several factors NTSB investigators will review, but no cause has yet been determined. He says inclement weather is making travel to the site difficult.

Benton also said the passengers ranged in age from 7 to 81. She said the three survivors were three men ages 28, 27 and 17.